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The strike by Peel’s public high school teachers is a union-backed “political tactic” designed to use local members to push a provincewide agenda, says the chair of the Peel District School Board.

Members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, District 19, went on strike Monday after labour talks broke down. The board has cancelled classes for 42,000 students.

Board chair Janet McDougald called the strike “irresponsible,” saying the teachers’ union just wants to make gains at the provincial level.

“There is no legitimate reason for Peel schools to be on strike,” McDougald insisted Monday in her car while waiting to pass picket lines at the board’s Mississauga office.

“We asked for a pause in the strike so a central deal could be negotiated. Sadly, despite this and all the concerted efforts of our negotiating team, provincial OSSTF refused the offer to pause the strike. If our parents hear that our talks were stalled or the board was not serious at the table, that is simply not true.”

McDougald said teachers have been duped into thinking the strike is about working conditions.

“We are not negotiating class size, salary, benefits or rep time at the local table. If that’s what teachers have been told, it’s absolutely untrue. In fact, we presented no board strips or changes to working conditions,” McDougald said.

The teachers’ collective agreement ended in August 2014 and teachers have shown great patience despite the slow pace of bargaining, countered OSSTF president Paul Elliott.

“There are issues we have been trying to deal with for 10 years and we have reached a point of frustration,” Elliott added.

The union wants changes made to the teacher performance assessment, where teachers are reviewed every five years.

Elliott said teachers may not know what is in their files — which could lead to a dismissal. The union wants assurances that any minor infractions will be removed from the file after two years.

The board and union have no new talks scheduled.

“It’s difficult to say when, but I hope we are back at the table this week,” Elliott said. “There is no good time to do a strike.”

There are also teacher strikes in Durham and Sudbury.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario will be in a legal strike position on May 10.